Franklin K. Lane, Secretary 



United States Geological Survey 

George Otis Smith, Director 



WATER-SUPPLY Paper 419 



PROFILE StJRVEYS IN 1915 



Ix\ 



SKAGIT RIVER BASIN, WASHINGTON 



I'lcKPARED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF 

W. H. HEREON 

AniNG' Chief Geographer 



Prepared in cooperation with 
THE STATE OF WASHINGTON 




WASHINGTON 

OVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 
1916 




Glass gBfeiqi 

Book -^ tHi- 



DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Franklin K. Lane, Secretary 



United States Geological Survey 

George Otis Smith, Director 



Water-Supply Paper 419 



PROFILE SURVEYS IN 1915 7i? 2, 

IN 

SKAGIT RIVER BASIN, WASHINGTON 



PEEPAEED UNDER THE DIRECTION OP 

W. H. HEREON 

Acting Chief Geographer 



Prepared in cooperation with 
THE STATE OF WASHINGTON 




WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 
1916 



(^j^a-^ 






ADDITIONAL COPIES 

OF THIS PUBLICATION MAY BE PROCURED FROM 

THE SUPERINTENDENT OF DOCUMENTS 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 

"WASHINGTON, D. C. 

AT 

15 CENTS PER COPY 

V 



D, Of D. 
JAN 25 1917 



LC Control Number 




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^ 



CONTENTS. 

Page. 

Introduction 5 

General features of Skagit River basin 5 

Gaging stations 7 

Publications 8 



ILLUSTEATIONS, 



Plates I-XII. Plan and profile of Skagit River and certain tributaries above 
Concrete, Wash. (Sheets A-L.) 

47188°— 16 3 



PROFILE SURVEYS IN SKAGIT RIVER BASIN, 
WASHINGTON. 



Prepared under tlie direction of W. H. Hereon, Acting Chief 

Geographer. 



INTRODUCTION. 

In order to determine the location of undeveloped water powers, 
the United States Geological Survey has from time to time, alone and 
in cooperation with State organizations, made surveys and profiles 
of some of the rivers of the United States that are adapted to the 
development of power by low or medium heads of 20 to 100 feet. 

The surveys are made by means of plane table and stadia. Eleva- 
tions are based on heights derived from primary or precise levels of 
the United States Geological Survey. The maps are made in the 
field and show not only the outlines of the river banks, the islands, 
the positions of rapids, falls, shoals, and existing dams, and the 
crossings of all ferries and roads, but the contours of banks to an 
elevation high enough to indicate the possibility of using the stream. 
The elevations of the bench marks left are noted on the field sheets 
in their proper positions. The figures given with the gaging stations 
shown on the maps indicate the elevation of the zero of the gage. 

GENERAL FEATURES OF SKAGIT RIVER BASIN. 

Skagit River, the largest stream tributary to Puget Sound, rises ia 
Beaver Lake, British Columbia, 20 miles north of the Canadian line, 
and flows southwestward 125 miles to its mouth near Mount Vernon, 
Skagit County, Wash. Below Mount Vernon it passes, by several 
channels, through its delta into Skagit Bay, an arm of the Sound. 

Its basin comprises 3,100 square miles on the western slope of the 
Cascade Mountains, touching the crest for 130 miles, measured along 
the divide, or 90 miles in a straight line, extending from Indian Pass 
northward along the eastern boundaries of Snohomish, Skagit, and 
Whatcom counties to the Canadian line, thence northward 20 miles 
into British Columbia, where it reaches Fraser River basin. 

Altitudes within this area range from sea level to about 7,000 feet 
on the Cascade divide and to more than 11,000 feet at the summit of 
Mount Baker — the highest peak in this basin. Other mountains 
whose slopes are drained by the Skagit are Glacier Peak and Mount 

5 



6 PKOFILE SUEVEYS IN SKAGIT RIVER BASIN^ WASH. 

Shuksan. Koughiy speaking, the greater part of this area that is 
above an altitude of 1,000 feet — approximately 2,500 square miles — 
is in the Washington and Snoqualmie national forests. Above the 
timber line and within the zone of perpetual snow much of the 
surface is barren rock. On Mount Baker and Glacier Peak there are 
many glaciers which furnish the most permanent water supply of the 
river. Below an elevation of about 4,000 feet the area is, in general, 
timbered with Douglas fir and hemlock, which are smaller and less 
abundant with increase in altitude. Some of the heaviest stands of 
Douglas fir are found on the lower stretches of this area. Cedar also 
is abundant. 

The prevaiHng soil on the higher elevations is coarse glacial gravel, 
but there are many pockets of loam in the valleys, and the deposits 
of limestone and clay at the mouth of Baker Kiver are notable, as 
they furnish materials for the Portland cement factories there. Under- 
brush and litter are thick on the lower levels and along the stream 
courses, become thinner up the slopes, and die out before they reach 
the timber line. 

The greater part of this area is snow covered to a depth of 2 to 10 
feet in winter and to much greater depths on the higher slopes and 
peaks. As on all streams in the Puget Sound region, the minimum 
stages of the streams are reached in September and October, when 
freezing nights cut off the snow water from the higher slopes and the 
drought still prevails in the valleys and low areas. A second low. 
stage comes in February, when the streams in the higher courses are 
ice locked and when all precipitation is held back in the form of snow. 

The possibilities of power development on the upper Skagit and 
its tributaries are extensive, but few of the sit^s have been utilized. 

Navigation on the lower Skagit, from its mouth to Rockport, about 
50 miles, has been investigated and reported on by the United States 
Army Engineers. 

The two largest tributaries of Skagit River are Sauk and Baker 
rivers. Thunder Creek, Ruby Creek, and Cascade River are also 
large, as they head in the high Cascades and furnish the water for 
the largest power plant now in operation. 

Sauk River, the largest of the tributaries, drains 731 square miles, 
mostly in the northeastern part of Snohomish County. Sauk River 
proper is formed by the union of the Upper Sauk and Suiattle rivers 
near the southern boundary of Skagit County, 10 miles above the 
mouth of the Sauk and the town of Sauk, Wash. Sauk River above 
the Suiattle is formed by the confluence of its north and south forks, 
Whitechuck River and Clear Creek, and it enters the Skagit approxi- 
mately at the head of navigation near the town of Rockport. From 
its mouth to its most distant source at Indian Pass the river is about 
50 miles long. It receives its principal tributaries at distances 



PKOFILE SURVEYS IN SKAGIT RIVER BASIN, WASH. 7 

from its mouth as follows: Suiattle River, 10 milos; Clear Creek, 22 
miles; the Whitechuck, 28 miles; and the confluence of North and South 
forks of Sauk, 35 miles. The Suiattle is composed of four streams 
of almost equal size — Canyon, Sulphur, Downey, and Buck creeks — 
which enter it at distances above its mouth of 30, 24, 22, and 16 
miles, respectively. The tributaries head in the glaciers of the Cascade 
divide and carry all the water yielded by the ice fields of Glacier Peak. 
Altitudes within the basin exceed 6,000 feet in many places, including 
the Cascade divide and the many lesser divides. Glacier Peak, 10,436 
feet above sea level, is the highest peak in this area. A large part 
of the basin is above the timber line and much of it is in the zone of 
perpetual ice and snow. The greater part of the area drained by the 
Sauk above the mouth of the Suiattle is in the Snoqualmie and 
Washington national forests. 

Baker River, the tributary second in importance, heads at Hanne- 
gan Pass, on the eastern slope of Mount Shuksan, and flows southward 
about 25 miles, passing through Baker Lake, on the southeastern 
slope of Mount Baker, to its junction with the Skagit, 40 miles above 
the mouth of that river, at Concrete, Wash. The basin of this 
stream coiliprises 295 square miles, is very mountainous and rugged, 
and is chiefly in Whatcom County, within the Washington National 
Forest. Like the Sauk, this river drains much surface within the 
zone of perpetual ice and snow, and is fed by the glacial fields of 
Mounts Baker and Shuksan. 

Baker River offers possibly the most feasible power site in the whole 
Skagit basin, as is indicated by the fact that it has already been 
developed. The Portland cement plants at Concrete have been op- 
erated by steam since the dam built on Baker River washed out in 
the fall of 1906. 

Little can be added concerning Cascade River, which constitutes 
the third most important tributary of the Skagit. This river and 
the adjacent creeks, already named, are very desirable power streams. 
They are to be utilized by plants now under construction at Marble- 
mount, Wash. 

The results of surveys of Skagit River and certain of its tributaries 
above Concrete, Wash., are presented in Plates I-XII. 

GAGING STATIONS. 

The Geological Survey has maintained in the basin of Skagit River 
the gaging stations indicated by the following list. The stations are 
arranged in downstream order, the position of tributaries being indi- 
cated by indention. A dash after date indicates that the station 
was beipg maintained June 30, 1916. A period after the date indi- 
cates discontinuance. 



8 PROFILE SURVEYS IIT SKAGIT RIVER BASIIT, WASH. 

Skagit River at Reflector Bar, near Marblemount, Wash., 1914. •;.' 

Skagit River near Marblemount, Wash., 1908-1914. 
Skagit River near Sedro Woolley, Wash., 1908- 

Stetattle Creek near Marblemount, Wash., 1914-1916. 

Cascade River near Marblemount, Wash., 1909-1913. 

Sauk River above Whitechuck River near Darrington, Wash., 1910. 

Sauk River above Clear Creek near Darrington, Wash., 1910-1913. 

Sauk River at Darrington, Wash., 1914- 

Sauk River at Suiattle Crossing, near Sauk, Wash., 1910-1912. 
Whitechuck River near Darrington, Wash., 1910. 
Clear Creek near Darrington, Wash., 1910-1912. 

Baker Lake (on Baker River) near Concrete, Wash., 1910-1915. 

Baker River below Anderson Creek, near Concrete, Wash., 1910- 

Baker River at Concrete, Wash., 1910-1915. 

PUBLICATIONS. 

Water-Supply Papers 252, 272, 292, 312, 332-A, 362-A, and 392 
of the Geological Survey contain the results of investigations of 
stream flow at the stations indicated in the preceding list. 

Water-supply papers and other publications of the United States 
Geological Survey containing data in regard to the water resources 
of the United States may be obtained or consulted as indicated below. 

1 . Copies may be obtained free of charge by applying to the Director 
of the Geological Survey, Washington, D. C. The edition printed 
for free distribution is, however, small and is soon exhausted. 

2. Copies may be purchased at nominal cost from trhe Superin- 
tendent of Documents, Government Printing O&Lce^ Washington, 
D. C, who will on apphcation furnish lists giving prices. 

3. Sets of the reports may be consulted in the libraries of the 
principal cities in the United States. i 

4. Complete sets are available for consultation^in the local ofiices 
of the water-resources branch of the Geological purvey, as foUows: 

Boston, Mass., Customhouse. 

Albany, N. Y., Room 18, Federal Building. 

Atlanta, Ga., Post Office Building. ' 

Madison, Wis,, care of Railroad Commission of Wisconsin. 

St. Paul, Minn., Old Capitol Building. 

Austin, Tex., Old Post Office Building. 

Helena, Mont., Montana National Bank Building. 

Denver, Colo., 302 Chamber of Commerce Building. 

Phoenix, Ariz., 417 Fleming Building. 

Salt Lake City, Utah, 421 Federal Building. 

Boise, Idaho, 615 Idaho Building. 

Tacoma, Wash., 406 Federal Building. 

Portland, Oreg., 416 Couch Building. 

San Francisco, Cal., 328 Customhouse. 

Los Angeles, Cal., 619 Federal Building. 

Honolulu, Hawaii, Kapiolani Building. 

A list of the Survey's publications may be obtained frora the 
Director of the United States Geological Survey, Washington, D. C. 

o 



U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 



PLAN AND PROFILE OF 

SKAGIT RIVER AND CERTAIN TRIBUTARIES 

ABOVE CONCRETE. WASHINGTON 



WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 419 PLATE 




. Chief Geoerapher 
G Gerdine, Geogfapher in charge 
opopaphy by S, G. Lunde 




2 



U, S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 



PLAN AND PROFILE OF 

SKAGIT RIVER AND CERTAIN TRIBUTARIES 

ABOVE CONCRETE, WASHINGTON 




U, S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 



PLAN AND PROFILE OF 

SKAGIT RIVER AND CERTAIN TRIBUTARIES 

ABOVE CONCRETE, WASHINGTON 



WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 419 PLATE 



"UNrfEDSfSTES— CHS 




R, B, Maishall, Chief Geogfaphef 
T G. Gerdine, Geographer in charge 
Tupography by S. G, Lunde and Ska£ 
Surveyed in 1915 



Contour interval on land 25 feet 
Contour interval on river surface 5 f 



U S, GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 



PLAN AND PROFILE OF 

SKAGIT RIVER AND CERTAIN TRIBUTARIES 

ABOVE CONCRETE WASHINGTON 



Jl4i/e/^s/No.72 




WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 419 PLATE 



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U S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 



PLAN AND PROFILE OF 

SKAGIT RIVER AND CERTAIN TRIBUTARIES 

ABOVE CONCRETE. WASHINGTON 



WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 419 PLATE 




B 



U S, GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 



PLAN AND PROFILE OF 

SKAGIT RIVER AND CERTAIN TRIBUTARIES 

ABOVE CONCRETE, WASHINGTON 



WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 419 PLATE ' 




R B. Marshall. Chiet Geoeraphei 
T G. Gerdme, Geoe. ' 
Topogfaphy by S. G. 
Surveyed in 1915 



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PLAN AND PROFILE OF 

SKAGIT RIVER AND CERTAIN TRIBUTARIES 

ABOVE CONCRETE. WASHINGTON 



WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 419 PLATE 




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R B. Marshall. Chief Geoeraphet 
T. G. Gerdlne, Geogfaphef in ch; 
Topography by S. G, Lunde 
Surveyed in 1915 



8 



U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 



PLAN AND PROFILE OF 

SKAGIT RIVER AND CERTAIN TRIBUTARIES 

ABOVE CONCRETE, WASHINGTON 



WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 419 PLATE 




9i 



S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 



PLAN AND PROFILE OF 

SKAGIT RIVER AND CERTAIN TRIBUTARIES 

ABOVE CONCRETE. WASHINGTON 



WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 419 PLATE IX 




10 



U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 



PLAN AND PROFILE OF 

SKAGIT RIVER AND CERTAIN TRIBUTARIES 

ABOVE CONCRETE, WASHINGTON 



WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 419 PLATE 




11 



S GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 



PLAN AND PROFILE OF 

SKAGIT RIVER AND CERTAIN TRIBUTARIES 

ABOVE CONCRETE, WASHINGTON 



WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 419 PLATE; 




!- B. Marshall. Chief Geogiapher 
G. Gerdine, Geographer in chargr 

"opogfaphy by S. G. Lunde 
Surveyed in 1915 



19 



. S, GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 



PLAN AND PROFILE OF 

SKAGIT RIVER AND CERTAIN TRIBUTARIES 

ABOVE CONCRETE. WASHINGTON 



WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 419 PLATE 




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